Next South Australia-Qingdao Co-Production after ‘Chef Exchange’ is ‘Soccer Swap’

A sports TV series would be produced by Australian and Chinese producers in 2018. The co-production venture between 57 Films of Australia and Qingdao TV of China would produce “Soccer Swap,” a TV series.

'Soccer Swap" would document how members of two youth teams from the two countries would be selected, prepare and play. The Australian team would come from Adelaide, while the Chinese soccer team would be from Qingdao where the match between the two team be held next year, Variety reported.

South Australia Spearheads Co-Prods

The co-production is the result of an agreement between the two production companies. Involved in the deal are the South Australia Film Corporation and the Adelaide United Football Club, Martin Hamilton-Smith, minister for investment and trade of South Australia, announced.

The minister is also behind a previous Australia-China co-production, “Chef Exchange.” The chef series, now entering Season 2, was shown to millions of Qingdao viewers in China’s Shandong Province and was aired again in special versions for other Chines broadcasters such as CCTV and Channel 9 Adelaide.

“Chef Exchange”

Annabelle Sheehan, CEO of South Australian Film Cooperation, said that “Soccer Swap” would be similar to “Chef Exchange” that records the relationship and fascinating cultural connections between the two Australian and Chinese provinces.

“Chef Exchange” had Adelaide chef Jock Zontrillo and Shandong chef Qu Jianmin exploring the food, culture, and customs of each other, If.com reported. 57 Films had as its partner in another TV co-production, “Speed,” Ciwen Media, a Chinese production company. It was the first Chinese TV drama to shoot in Australia. The two production houses also co-produced “The AFL Show” for CCTV.

To lead in the development of “Soccer Swap” is Paul Ryan, founder of 57 Films, with Nicole Miller and Tao Yu, the producers of the sports series which would involve an under-14 team from Adelaide and a youth team from Shandong.